The original Dick's was a block from where I went to Jr High, and three blocks from my high school. I cash my paycheck at a bank around the next corner from that store. Used to drool and oogle for hours there. Lately, I don't even bother going in. Probably been six or seven months, and that was for sneakers. They stopped carrying pistols of any kind, no blackpowder, have few sidelocks (1), never seem to have percussion caps ("They're on order, should be in in a week" - this will go on for months), forget about flints ("No interest hereabouts in those foolish flintlocks; you should buy an in-line"), usually are out of round balls ("We'll get some in when the muzzleloading season arrives"
"Isn't that three months too late if I want to sight in or practice, or worse if I shoot year-round?"), have no traditional archery equipment, hide the gun department way back behind the clothes and exercise gear like they're ashamed to carry it. They have gone WAY down in my sporting interests in the past 25 years. Gander Mountain is MUCH better stocked and traditional friendly (at least locally).
Last time I was at Dicks I struck out for the three items I wanted (powder, primers, balls) I asked the clerk in the Gun Department if he knew where there were any sporting goods stores in the area.
Biggest gripe I have with them is that they will run a big gun sale a week before deer season and load up ignorant slobs with weapons they'll probably shoot for the first time at a deer, or movement. :curse: Same with bows, which is much worse.